by

UK: baɪ | US: baɪ

Definition

  1. prep. near or next to

  2. prep. through the agency or means of

  3. prep. not later than

  4. adv. near or at hand

  5. adv. past

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

The word "by" originates from Old English bī, meaning "near, at, or from." It is a compact Germanic root with no further divisible morphemes in modern English. Its core sense of proximity or agency has persisted through centuries, adapting to various grammatical roles (preposition, adverb). Unlike compound words, "by" resists segmentation due to its ancient, monomorphic structure.

Examples

  1. She stood by the window, waiting for the rain to stop.

  2. The book was written by a famous author.

  3. Please submit your report by Friday.

  4. He walked by without noticing me.

  5. The time has gone by so quickly.